bare-bones

1 of 2

adjective

: including only what is most basic or necessary
a bare-bones email program
Skyscrapers of steel hung with curtain walls of glass, these sleek buildings were impressive monuments to bare-bones architectural integrity.C. A. Mills

bare bones

2 of 2

plural noun

: the barest essentials, facts, or elements
the bare bones of her life

Examples of bare-bones in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
However, that integration has been limited with bare-bones workout summaries. Victoria Song, The Verge, 3 Jan. 2025 Northwest Registered Agent, by contrast, is more of a bare-bones service. Jasmin Suknanan, CNBC, 26 Dec. 2024
Plural noun
This is the most bare bones data that Paramount has released for Season 5B. Katie Campione, Deadline, 17 Dec. 2024 First, strip down the Blueprint to bare bones and start over. Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 3 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for bare-bones 

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1868, in the meaning defined above

Plural Noun

1647, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bare-bones was in 1647

Dictionary Entries Near bare-bones

bareboat

bare-bones

bare bones

Cite this Entry

“Bare-bones.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bare-bones. Accessed 15 Jan. 2025.

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